Responsible Eating

Nothing better than fresh picked raspberries!

I recently read a blog post from Bethany over at Rinse Repeat, and it got me thinking. Her question was this “How do you incorporate cleaner, safer food without busting the bank?” It’s a really good question. Do we know where our food is coming from? Do we care? Does organic really matter or mean anything?

My family has been struggling with this for the better part of 5 years. Where do you draw the line? Organic generally costs a LOT more. How do I justify the increased expenditure? My grocery bill is already way more than what I consider to be within reason. According to the USDA at home food prices rose an average of 2.8% yearly. However it also notes that while processed goods stay relatively stagnant in price (due to high labor to food cost ratio) raw goods are rising at an astronomical rate. Beef was more than 8% more expensive year over year. We are being punished for eating whole foods, cooking at home, and trying to be at least relatively healthy. On top of that when we try to be responsible, sustainable, or healthy it gets even worse. Organic labels are often times questionable, and priced well above the non organic counterpart.

So how do we do it? I could cut out meat; it is generally very expensive to buy organic, grass fed meat. But my husband might boycott at home dinners. I could only eat organic and cut back on other things in our life, but I don’t subscribe to the notion that organic is always healthier. The big question I always come back to is where does it come from?

Oatmeal Banana Caramel Muffins

There is only one thing to do with old mushy bananas right?  That's right make some sort of banana bread.  This week I wasn't really feeling it.  In fact not really feeling much.  I have had a major case of the hum drums.  But because of the yucky black-spotted bananas I forced myself to enlist the help of a super 2 year old helper and get in the kitchen.  The result was a slight spin on my normal go to banana bread, a tasty treat. Oatmeal Banana Caramel muffins.  My husband hates muffins and even choked a couple down, so I think that we had success.

Mushrooms!!

So today I have started a new adventure, growing my own mushrooms.  A few weeks back there was a grow your own oyster mushroom kit on woot.com so I had to give it a try.  It came in the mail yesterday and today I am trying to wait patiently.  Seems pretty idiot proof, but I have been wrong before.  Wish me luck!

Banana Cream Pie

     When we were in San Francisco a few weeks ago, we had lunch at the praised bakery/café Tartine.  Overall the food was good, not mind blowing as Bon Appetite might have you think, but good.  For desert I shared with my daughter one of my favorite spring time pies, banana cream, in tart form.  What made this expensive little tart unique was the little morsel of caramel and the thin chocolate shell under the cream filling.  The filling was perfect, bananas firm but not unripe, and the whip cream light.  Unfortunately the crust was bad.  It was thick and tough.  So I decided, since I would be making a banana cream pie for Easter anyway, I would share with you my version of this special little treat.  I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

Sillk dyed Easter Eggs

Easter is almost here.  Easter is my Favorite holiday!!  Easter in my family always comes with the best meal, biggest pie buffet, and an amazing Easter egg hunt.  Having kids has made the festivities that much more fun.  But before Easter can come you have to prepare for the festivities.  In the coming week I will share a few awesome Easter recipes, but not today.  This morning my daughter and I prepared by getting a little bit crafty.  Using the tutorial found on Our Best Bites,  we made silk dyed Easter Eggs.  The tutorial was really nicely done, super easy to follow, and had good pictures.

Spring Is here! Smoked Fish Pastries

I don't know that you will find many people that are as excited about spring as I am, except maybe my daughter.  She knows what spring is all about, walks in the stroller and jumping in puddles.  This weekend after my husband took the kids shopping, Olivia showed up at home with a new outfit.  The result was an amazing puddle jumping wonder woman photo shoot.  The boots were from Target and I believe the shirt was from Spencer's. 

Ginger and Almond Salmon

My dad just sent two packages of coho salmon from lake superior.  One was smoked and one was fresh.  The smoked is siting in the fridge waiting to be devoured, but the fresh needed to be served right away.  Fresh water coho salmon is a really delicate fish and a treat.  I have been having a lack of inspiration as of late, which means I cook a lot of the same things on repeat.  Being in Wisconsin I don't get fresh fish often, and when I do it just isn't that fresh.  However, when my dad sends fish it is always pristine. Normally I would broil this fish with lemon and butter, however my oven is broken.  Instead I chose to prepare the fish with a light breading of almonds, ginger, garlic, and panko breadcrumbs.  This was a nice "I wish it was spring" meal.

I served the fish with sauteed broccoli, locally grown oyster mushrooms, and sticky rice.